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I woke up early to go to the website for the New Birth Missionary Baptist church. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew that Bishop Eddie Long would be convincing. Every bit of his charisma and experience would be needed to manage the complex set of allegations against him for sexually abusing some of his members.
I'll lay out some notable quotes by Bishop Eddie Long this morning and let you judge much of it for yourself. What I can say, though, is that Bishop Long seemed to say a great deal without saying much:
"I'll be here next week."
Perhaps that means that he's not going to resign. I look forward to seeing if he is going to be preaching next Sunday.
"[This is] probably the most difficult time in my entire life. I want to talk to you for a moment about how to handle painful and difficult situations."
He seemed to want to make this into a teachable moment for his congregation, but he didn't spend a great deal of time teaching, since his address was only about 15 to 20 minutes long.
"We will not allow the present pain to cause us to abandon our righteous commitment and stand."
This sounded like he was going to lay down some bad news for the congregation. Perhaps he's asking the church to stand with him during this difficult time, which they seemed ready and willing to do.
"There have been allegations and attacks made on me. I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man. But I am NOT the man that's being portrayed on the television. That's not me."
This statement was incredibly vague, implying that he may or may not be guilty of the allegations against him. To say that you are not the man being portrayed in the media doesn't mean you're innocent. It simply means that you may be slightly different from the way the accusers are describing you. Nearly any guilty or innocent person can make this statement.
"By the counsel of my lawyers, they have advised me not to try this case in the media. I will not try this case in the media. It will be tried in the court of justice."
This statement was expected. Again, it says nothing about guilt or innocence.
"I've been accused, I'm under attack....but this thing, I'm gonna fight."
This statement means that the situation is far from over. I expect an interesting battle behind the scenes as attorneys squabble over the amount of the settlement. I would be surprised to see this get as far as a jury trial, especially if other accusers continue to step forward. This may open up a Tiger Woods -like can of worms for Bishop Eddie Long in the event that he actually has engaged in wrong-doing.
"I feel like David against Goliath. But I'll tell you what, I've got five rocks and I haven't thrown one yet."
As you can see, Bishop Eddie Long has made it clear that he's going to fight the charges. He does not, however, go in to any detail about his guilt or innocence. So while he must be given credit for addressing his congregation, he cannot be given credit for being innocent of the charges against him. Perhaps the court of law can help us to sort these things out.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (328)
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By: wandaful on 10/04/2010 11:22AM
VERY WELL SAID. I couldn't have said it better.
This pastor is a perfect example of one of the wolves in sheep's clothing that people need to watch out for.
This drama that has unfolded around him is only a reflection of his own consciousness. It is of his own creation. The universe does not drop off on your doorstep what you don't call for.
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By: dawn on 9/26/2010 11:53PM
First of all, all of our days are numbered, the devil is coming by everybodies house so make sure you are in order with God when the devil comes. This is an attack on the body of Christ, it had to be an attack on a man as big as Bishop Long to stop the Christianity. It would not have been as productive if it was just an attack on a small town preacher that is struggling. For everyone that has negative things to say about Bishop Long, be careful putting your mouth on this man of God. People can say what they want to say about him but you still can not take away the things this man has done and who he is. Bishop is annointed and is a man of God.
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By: James on 9/28/2010 5:09AM
Maybe your God, but he can't fool my God.
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By: Kaylyn on 9/27/2010 8:50PM
Did we just have a BILL CLINTON moment!!! We don't fight our battles in the court of the land. Pray saints, pray. Glad the church went on and had their praise...but, Let GOD be true and every other man a liar. Romans 3:4
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By: Rev Holmes on 9/26/2010 10:43AM
I, like many of you, have been troubled over the recent light that has been shed on the dark side of Bishop Eddie Long’s dual lifestyle. As a minister who has been called to the ministry for past 12 years and who has surely worn out my grace card, I can not help but wonder. I wonder if Bishop Long aka “Eddie,” is a product of our own making as the black church. So many Christians have elevated mere men to the status of Jesus Christ, Superstar. The only difference between small, mid size or mega churches is that depending upon which one you attend you will have either small, mid sized or mega issues or problems. Can I get a witness?
The greatest man to walk the earth, Jesus Christ, was very poor in belongings, but rich in the Spirit of God. Recent studies have shown that over the last 40 years we have had a 50% reduction in our civic engagement. This has to do with our sense of community when it comes to participation in community organizations, philanthropy, and our overall lack of empathy and concern for others.
Income inequality over this same period has caused a dysfunctional and inferior public school system resulting in an old industrialized instrument attempting to educate a global community. Did you know that 84% of the wealth in this country is held by about 20% of the people. That means 80% own 14% of the wealth. The reason I say this is that our culture, which is contrary to Christ, has created those who have wealth to be “little gods.” The lack of accountability of each of us to each other is gone. Sexual desire for the same sex is a spirit. I am not getting into the issue of homosexuality but today’s culture says do what you feel like doing regardless of the consequences. “Do you.”
During this same period, we have seen some 35,000 different Christian denominations arise because we have focused on our desires, different doctrines, false interpretations and misrepresentations of the scriptures and have centered our attention on religion, rather then a relationship marked by a firm foundation in God. Many pastors have taken advantage of the most holy to pimp God and God’s people, while acquiring sinfully huge measures wealth, celebrity status, prosperity and exclusivity for personal gain while the income disparity gap widens. Is this what Jesus would do?
My argument is that church folks are just as responsible for supporting their addictive appetites. The difference between the junkie and some pastors is that the junkie will tell you he is a junkie and the pastor will lie tell you its “god.”
Bishop Long was given too much rope with those young men and he has gone to the coop to many times and now his chickens have come home to roost. My question is “who gave him the rope?” Did we create the circumstances for this once faithful man who was after the heart of God ,who now finds himself caught in world of sin, immorality and shame? Where is his pastor to check him? We are just as responsible!! Authentic and righteous leaders are at drought proportions in this country, not just for pastors and bishops, but in all spheres of social life from public servants to our corporate corrupted psychopathic citizens.
God sees sexual or immoral sin all the same. It is sin. Sin can be like a contamination of cancer and an untreated infection or disease in the body of Christ. Soon it will show its devastating affects on us and ultimately bring death.
Death to new believers coming to Christ
Death of hope for the hopeless
Death of a faithfulness
Death of joy to those who now morn
Death of the love lost that will never be same
Death of dreams of purpose and destiny
Death of the right attitudes
Death of the ability to trust again
Death of our greatest asset: Our fruitful relationships
It is much more devastating for those who have put their confidence in men when they fall. It hurts deeply when you have trusted somebody and that trust is violated. Are we co-dependents in the sinful addiction of our leaders when it comes to feeding their desires for power, wealth and sexual impropriety?
Are we the ones who give them the praise rather then God?
Are we the ones who lifted them up so high that they can’t get over themselves?
Are we the ones who put our trust in man because we have not learned how to fully trust God?
Are we the ones who have allowed church to become an entertainment mecca of “anything goes” rather then a holy tabernacle of prayer, righteousness and worship?
Are we the ones who have fed these egos with pride that brings men low and rather then humility which retains honor with God?
While I know that Bishop Long has blessed so many people at New Birth and beyond, he now faces the monumental task of trying to explain his sin to his sheep. Some will never understand. We know God forgives all sin, but we have to also ask God to forgive us also for our role as contributors to the glorification of flesh rather then the Spirit of the Living God.
My pastor preached on sin and the law from Romans 7 last week and he is preaching on how we can be free in the Spirit from Romans 8 tomorrow. As a prophetic voice I believe the Spirit of God is right and led him to bring about this healing word. A word for those of us who recognize “that when we try to do right evil is always around and we seem to end up doing wrong.” We cannot do it ourselves that is why Christ has redeemed us from the law of sin as He will Bishop Long.
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By: Rev Holmes on 9/26/2010 10:46AM
Here is my blog space on my reflection. Please join the conversation
http://djprophetic1.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/are-we-responsible-for-lifting-bishop-eddie-long-up-so-high-he-was-bound-to-fall/
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By: edujustice2005 aka Benton: @ on 9/26/2010 1:25PM
@ JAMES woodall; this is not just Spectuation, this is directly from the victims and affidavit and it would stand if it was in a criminal Court, and in a civil Court, you do not need to prove you case as much! So you can get off that horse you are ridding. Furthermore, if it was not true, I do not think those young men would want their name in the whereas all their friendsa and girlfried would be reading of this. And I bet you, before this case go to trial, Long will come with a settlement & somekind of lie, b/c he knows anything he tells the members, they will believe it. But, the first time I saw the man he looked like a fogget!If you are a man you will ay you were correct!
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By: Leta Calvert on 9/26/2010 3:31PM
You speak as if Bishop Long is guilty. Have you ever been to his church and witnessed what he and the church has done for the community of Lithonia? Are you aware of how many young brothers he and the church has sent to college? Are you aware of how many books he has written which has generated his own income? Who blessed Solomon with all the riches and wealth he accumulated? I am a firm believer that whether you are a mega or mini pastor with a mega or mini church if you don't do right by God's sheep your sins will find you out and that goes for the mini and mega saints also
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By: kando on 9/26/2010 7:40PM
Rev. Holmes, This is to you and some other long azz winded commenters. If you all want to be writers, take your short manuscrips to a publisher or you can get to the gist of your stories with fewer words
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By: Gee on 9/26/2010 8:20PM
God does not forgive all sin. But Rev, are you emphatically saying he's guilty?
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